Hospital bed accessory



June-11, 1957 L. SMITH 2,

' HOSPITAL BED ACCESSORY 'Filed June 21, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

June 11, 1957 L. SMITH HOSPlTAL BED ACCESSORY Filed June 21. 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

June 11, 1957 SMITH 2,795,473

HOSPITAL BED ACCESSORY Filed June 21. 1952 4 She ets-Sheet s June 11,1957 L. SMITH HOSPITAL BED ACCESSORY 4 Sheets-Shut 4 Filed June 21. 1952Z M W, w w m w a w 9 5 My F/ w & WU W #0 1 7 w J w o HOSPITAL BEDACQESSORY Lee Smith, Ludington, Mich, assignor to Cari-om Industries,1122., Ludington, Mich, a corporation of gan Application June 21, 1952,Serial No. 294,870

6 Claims. (Cl. 312-295) The present invention relates to hospitalaccessory and special utility tables and is concerned with articles ofthis class which are particularly adapted for use by immobilized,bedridden or other in-patients who may be physically restricted orconfined under a wide variety of restraints.

A principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide amultiple purpose utility table which serves as a hospital bed accessoryby possessing an uninterrupted top surface and a wide range ofadjustability, simplicity, and facility toward control and universaladaptability as for right and left hand access to hospital beds withoutphysical protrusion of mechanical or structural parts.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such atable which is equipped with a fully concealable and protuberant-freebook rest and mirror auxiliary supportable at conventional tilt anglesand with a stationery supply or general utility drawer, both of whichare so constructed and arranged as to be fully useable from either sideof the table.

With these and other objects in view attention is now directed to thefollowing detaiied specification and to the annexed disclosure drawingsin both of which corresponding parts are designated by similar referencecharacters throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple utility hospital table havingembodied therein various features of the present invention andillustrated with its mirror and back rest board in utility position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same device viewed from an opposite vantagewith certain of its concealable accessories shown partially exposed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding with the illustration inFig. 2 with the mirror back rest accessory in a changed position ofoperation;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the device;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on line 5-5 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the same line as Fig. 5,but showing the inclined back rest in various of its alternativepositions of utility;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on line77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken approximately on line88 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional plan detail view taken approximately online 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, a smoothplanar uninterrupted table top element 21 which may be made of hardwoodveneer plywood or laminated composition, is secured as at 22 to a castiron, cast aluminum, Tenzaloy (a material composed of .8% copper, 8%zinc, .4% magnesium and 90.8% aluminum) or forged spider bracket 23. Thespider bracket 23 has integrally formed with it a principal socket orhub 25 in which is snugly fitted and preferablywelded a length of sturdytubing 26. The latter slidably receives 2,795,473 Patented June 11, 1957an upstanding tubular beam 27 which'is securely anchored in a hubformation 28 of a pedestal casting 29 which forms part of a rigid baseframework and is matched by a companion pedestal casting 31.

In order to afford abundant stability against unbalancing, the twopedestal castings 29 and 31 are spaced apart and securely integrated byan intermediate tubular length of beam 32which enters opposed sidewardlyprojecting hubs 33 and 34 in the castings 29 and 31, respectively. Thetwo pedestal castings 29 and 31 are contoured in gracefully slopingconvergence, each from its intermediate or center body portion Where itis largest towards its opposite extremities where each pedestal castingreceives a swivel mounted caster roller 35.

Adjustment of the table height is achieved by means of a crank handle 46proportioned as best indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, and mechanism (notshown) associated therewith.

Near its pedestal end the table top 21 is arcuately rounded withrelatively large radius curvatures while at its remote end it iscorrespondingly rounded but with minor radius curvatures. The table topis a smooth substantially rectangular unit which has an uninterruptedtop surface that is easily kept clean in accordance with highesthygienic requirements. Moreover, it is to be noted that the table top 21is at all times level so that it reliably supports medicine vessels,food dishes or other articles which may be placed upon it by the patientor by the attendants, and that it is comparatively secure againsttilting because of its substantial balance throughout as well as becauseof its rigid pedestal post and height adjustment feature.

For the convenience of patients desiring to read or comb their hair,etc. an accessory built to operate like a drawer is slidably mounted onthe bottom of the table top for selective use from either side of thetable top. This accessory constitutes a rectangular frame 56, Fig. 9,made of side frame members 57, secured at their ends to front and rearframe members 58 and 59. Sturdiness is assured by the provision ofcorner blocks 61 shaped so that they flare as at 62 from the narrowheighth of the side frames 57 to the relatively greater heighth of therear end frame 59 to provide vertical as well as angular stability.

The slide frame 56 is supported between a pair of guide rails 63 and 64which are secured to the under-surface of table top 21 as best indicatedin Fig. 8. Each rail 63 and 64 is rabbeted along its guide surface witha wide groove 65 preferably located in the upper part thereof in whichare placed certain strategically, as more fully described hereafter,located limit stops 66, 67, 68 and 69 (Figs. 2 and 3). The frame railmembers 57 rest upon metallic flange plates 71 and 72, Fig. 8, which areoffset and secured to the bottom edges of the guide rail and extendacross the full width of the table terminating just short of the aprontrims 73 and '74 on opposite sides of the table.

On its inner surface the rear rail 59 carries a pair of slide bolts 75and 76, Fig. 8, frictionally mounted in housings 77 that are secured tothe rail at the ends thereof. When extended the ends of bolts 75 and 76project beyond the side frame members 57 where they are received in therabbeted grooves 65 to cooperate with the stops 66, 67, 68 and 69. Thebolt 75 on one side is disposed higher than the bolt 76 on the otherside and is located to move within the upper portion of the groove 65 onthat side while bolt 76 moves within the lower portion of the groove 65on the other side. Stops 66 and 68 are located at opposite ends in thegroove 65 of side rail 63' while the stops 67 and 69 are locatedatopposite ends in the groove 65 of side rails 64. Moreover, asbestlower portion of its groove v6 5, while stop 69 "at the other end islocated in the upper portion of its groove '65.

By means ofthis arrangement full 180 reversability.

of the slide'frame 56 is attained. That is to say, by withdrawing thebolts 75 and 76 to clear the stops the entire frame 56 may be withdrawnfrom'betwecn the side rails 63 and 64 on one side of the table,turnedlSO, and reinserted from either sideto open from the other side ofthe table 21, thereby accommodating right or left hand use dependingupon which side the patient is when the table is rolled into place fromone or the other side of the bed. After the frame 55 is inserted fromeither side with orientation'as indicated in Fig. the stops are forcedoutwardly by a persons fingers with access had from the bottom throughthe open frame. Thereafter, the forward stops 66 and 67 constitutelimits for the bolts '75 and 7 6 to prevent forward removal of the framewhile the ends of the aprons overlapping the ends of the grooves 65serve as back stops. Under these circumstances the bolts 75 and 76 donot encounter the rear stops 68 and 69 but instead permit the frame 56to be pushed clear into the table until a rail 81 hinged to the front ofthe frame by hinge elements 84 and 85 comes into alignment with theapron rail 73.

For cushioning the back stops, small resilient pads of felt or rubber 52are secured to the ends of the aprons where exposed by the grooves 65 tosoften the engagement of the projecting bolts 75 and 76. On the otherhand with the frame 56 arranged to open on the opposite side of thetable as best indicated in Fig. 1 the bolts 75 and 76 are adapted toencounter the limit stops 69 and 68in order to prevent removal of theframe from that side of the table, under which circumstances they arenot interfered with by the limit stops 66 and 67. Thus, the frame may beinserted its full depth under symmetrically opposite conditions.

The hinged rail 81 is part of a second frame which carries a rnirror hdand includes (Pig. 6) 'a backing panel 88', bounded by the hinged railblit'self in front, aback rail 33 and side frame elements 89 and 91.Grooves 90 in the rails $1 and 33 slidably receive the mirror edgewisetherein in supported relation as held in place by side braces 80 appliedin suitable'manner as by screws after the mirror is in place.

The entire mirror panel thus in itsreposed "position, Fig. 5, occupiesvery little space and rests snugly on the top of frame 56 so that it maybe entirely concealed under the table top 21. By withdrawing the frame56 to theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 5 until the rail 88 isclear of the table top 21; the mirror- 86 may be raised and theninclined any one of many positions of which two have been illustrated inFig. 6 'in dotted and solid outlines.

The angular position or tilt imposed at will upon the mirror frame 86 atany time is preserved by the combined positioning of slide frame 56 andthe'resting of the mirror frame against the edge of the table at theparticular angle of inclination imposed on the mirror frame 86. Thisposition is maintained and slippage or marring of associated parts isavoided by a pair of thick sponge rubber strips 93 and 94 embedded inthe side rails 89 and 91 (Fig. 7) as will now be discussed.

The rubber strips 93 and 94am preferably made of thick sponge rubberhaving a rough surface so as to provide deep compressibility as well asa surface of a high coeflicient of friction. Thus the corner edges 95 or96 of thetable top 21 (Fig. 6) bite deeply into the rubber strip at anydegree of inclination of the mirror and therebysupport the mirror at a.given tilt without being scarred or permitting slippage. Thus, not only"do the strips serve the purpose of preventingany damage, howeverslight, from being done to the table top corners and 96, but moreover,cooperate cushionwise with these corners to permit them to becomedetents deeply embedded into the rubber to hold a given position. Thismakes it possible to place heavy books, magazines or other objects onthe mirror panel and use it as a book rest at an angle established tosuit the convenience of the patient.

For the purpose of securely anchoring and retaining the rubber strips 93and 94, the side frame members 89 and 91 are grooved deeply to receivethese strips to a limited depth where they are cemented in'place. Thispractice not only prevents the strips 93 and 94 from creeping andcurling, but also it permits them to have additional thickness desiredto improve their cushioning or compressibility when encountered by thetable corners 95 and 96.

Since the tray 56 is insertable from either side of the table top 21, asalready explained and since its sliding movement is similarly regulatedby the slide bolts 75 and 76 encountering the limit stops 6669 theavailability of the book rest mirror tray 36 is rendered universal whilebeing totally concealable when its use is not required.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the treatment of the ends of the apron rails 73 and 74are shown. Their ends at the free end of the table are squared androunded with a finished corner. At the ends nearest the pedestal supportthe rails are curved as at $7, Fig. 1, with the side edgescorrespondingly filleted so that the table can be moved over an occupiedbed with little, if any, possibility of catching in the bed clothing.

In order to achieve still more utility and efiiciency afforded by thisdesign, the space between the apron rails 73 and '74 at the free end ofthe table 21 is utilized to support a shallow convenience drawer 101which has adequate capacity to receive stationery or other items ofinterest to patients. Each of the apron strips 73 and 74 are equipped ontheir facing side with suitable strips serving as tracks on which theadjacent edges of the drawer 101 are slidably carried. The face panel102 of the drawer 101 is smooth and flush and so dimensioned as toconform artistically with the height and shape of the apron strips 73and 74, when fully inserted.

-While the present invention has been explained and described withreference to precise embodiments of structural detail, and theattainment of the objects is thereby understood, nevertheless, it willbe appreciated that numerous modifications and variations can be madeWithout departing from the spirit of'the invention,the scope of which iscommensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An overbed table comprising a cantilever supported table memberhaving a smooth uninterrupted'top surface, apron elements depending fromthe side edges of said plate having a transverse channel intermediatethe extremities of said apron elements, guide rails flanking saidchannel and having in their facing surfaces opposing longitudinalgrooves, a rectangular frame slidable in said channel and insertablefrom either end thereof,-bolts carried on opposite sides of said frameand each shiftable between retracted and projected positionscorrespondingly withdrawing or inserting the extremities of said boltsin respect to said grooves, one of said bolts being disposed at an upperlevel and the other at a lower level, and limit stops secured in saidgrooves at levels corresponding with said bolts for each direction ofinser tion of said frame.

2. In a hospital table or similar article, a table top constructed of acontinuous surface rectangular plate, a skirting rail extendingdownwardly-from'the side edges on opposite sides of said plate having a;transverse aperture therethrough, track rails flanking-said opening-andhaving longitudinal grooves in their facing surfaces, a

frame slidable in said aperture and insertable thereinto from eitherend, bolts carried by said frame shiftable between positions disposingor retracting their extremities in respect to said grooves, said boltsbeing disposed at different levels, and limit stops in said grooves atlevels corresponding with related bolts for each direction of insertionof said frame.

3. A hospital bed accessory comprising a horizontally disposed tabletop, depending rails at both sides at the undersurface of said tabletop, said rails interrupted by an intermediate transverse channel, guideplates flanking said channel and provided with inset grooves facing saidchannel, a frame member adapted to be received slidably within saidchannel and including side frame elements, a back frame element, and afront frame element, a bar hinged to said front frame element, a backrest secured to said bar, a mirror carried by said back rest, and meansfor confining said frame member and its carried back rest whichcomprises a pair of slide bolts carried by said back frame element, oneof said slide bolts being disposed at a higher level than the other, andlimit stops secured within said guide plate grooves, certain of saidstops being offset from each other in correspondence with the bases ofsaid slide bolts at each end of its related plate groove to constitutean obstruction to its said slide bolt when said frame member is insertedin a characteristic side of said table.

4. In combination, a drawer-like slide apparatus for reversibleinsertion relative to a cantilever suspension table, a pair of parallelguide members secured to the table each having on its inner surface achannel and stop means at different levels, said drawer-like apparatusbeing proportioned to be slidably received between said guide members, apair of slide bolts carried on the interior of said apparatus and eachshiftable to protrude into a related channel level defined by said stopmeans in its adjacent guide member, one of said stop means being locatedin each end of said channels, a pair at one end lying in the path ofretraction and encountering the protruding slide bolts when saidapparatus is inserted at one side of said table, a pair at the other endlying displaced and out of the path of encounter with said protrudingslide bolts, said pairs of stop means being in symmetrical oppositedisplacement and having total reversed engagement with said slide boltswhen said apparatus is inserted from the opposite side of the table.

5. In combination with a hospital bed table or similar device a tabletop comprising a horizontal planar surface element having aperpendicular peripheral bounding surface with insignificant cornerfilleting between said planar and bounding surfaces, a drawer-type slideframe 'having substantial depth, means carried by the underside of thetable for slidably supporting said frame, a back-rest panel hinged tothe fore portion of said frame and pivotable thereon between horizontalconcealing position above said frame and an erect utility position forpivotal movement about an axis exposed below the frame, said panelincluding side rail members having in their inner and table top facingsurface shallow grooves extending longitudinally across the mid point ofthe side rail members, strips of compressible resilient material securedin said grooves and having such sufficient thickness to protrude abovethe facing surface of said side rail members and support the panel uponsaid frame in said horizontal concealed position, said frame whenwithdrawn from beneath the table underside support means rests ininclined position against said table top corner in supportedrelationship by engagement with said table top at a level approximatelyin the vertical middle of the panel, said resilient strip material beingcompressed by said corner with frictional traction therebetween toresist limited load forces tending toward slippage between said paneland said table top.

6. In combination a frame for reversible insertion relative to acantilever suspension table, a pair of parallel spaced guide memberssecured to the table having channels formed on the inner surfacesthereof adapted to slidably receive said frame, a pair of slide boltsdisposed at one end of said frame, one slide bolt being secured at thebottom of said frame and the other slide bolt being secured at the topof said frame, and a stop at each end of each of said channels, thestops at each end of each of said channels being adapted to engage saidbolts upon withdrawal when said bolts are disposed at the opposite endin the fully inserted position of said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS282,087 Jowett July 31, 1883 573,089 Haynes Dec. 15, 1896 806,550Marstall Dec. 5, 1905 1,108,082 Pennock Aug. 18, 1914 1,569,010 GeimerIan. 12, 1926 1,902,425 Stouges Mar. 21, 1933 1,902,443 Grumman Mar. 21,1933 2,171,772 Vie'hmann Sept. 5, 1939 2,294,749 Harbison Sept. 1, 19422,318,458 Boren May 4, 1943 2,329,902 Hillenbrand Sept. 21, 19432,565,784 Sheean Aug. 28, 1951 2,628,147 Berner Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS 7,623 Great Britain 1891

